Attractor patterns are just about my favorite flies to tie – and use…Many times we have been standing on an Eastern Sierra tail water and Michael will ask me, “Which fly should I use Dad ?” So, I peruse the boxes and after a few years of practical application and experience, I will choose a pattern and say, “Try this one” – with my fingers crossed behind my back…
Here are some guys that I and Ally will be using this Spring ( I’ll be giving them to her now since Michael and Aimee have moved to NYC).
Aimee at sunset, at $3.00 Bridge this past July…
SPRING 2013 ATTRACTOR BOX…
Delektable Lil’ Spanker… BLACK, Rainbow-Lavender…Dan Delekta/Variant…
Materials for Delektable Lil’ Spanker…
HOOK: TMC 5262, #12 – #18
THREAD: ABDOMEN -UTC, 70 denier, Black…Thorax forward – Tiemco 16/0, Black
Tail: Medium Dun Mallard Flank Fibers
RIB: Lagartun Silver Wire – sized to hook
THORAX REAR: Rainbow Sow Scud Dubbing
WING CASE: DNA Holo Chromosome, 6 strands, pulled over and divided to make 3 legs on each side – longish
HACKLE: Light Dun CDC – premium select – Trout Hunter
THORAX FRONT: Ice Dub UV Lavender
BEAD: Silver Tungsten , sized to hook
These are killer on the Madison River and I suspect elsewhere as well…
Beartooth Fly Fishing…home of the Delektable Lil’ Spanker…where Dan Delekta ties these critters and his wife thought I was a guide when I dropped in with my crew…Above the Madison River South of Cameron, MT…HERE is a video on how to tie ‘em…
LGM (Little Green Machine) DNA – Wilox/Variant …
LITTLE GREEN MACHINE Materials…the original by Vince Wilcox…HERE
HOOK: Daiichi 1130, #14 – #20
THREAD: Uni. 8/0 Gray – for underabdomen…Tiemco, 16/0 Gray – Thorax forward
TAIL: Three Brown Pheasant Tail Fibers
RIB: Fl. Chartreuse Ultra Wire – SM
OVER ABDOMEN: Micro Tubing, Chartreuse
WING CASE: DNA Holo Chromosome Flash, coat with UV Knotsense, Clear Cure Goo or 5 Min. Epoxy
GILLS: White Antron
THORAX: Ice Dub Olive/Brown or Peacock
BEAD: Copper Tungsten, one size under ( ie. 5/64″ for #16)
I tie these in a number of colors and they ALL work…especially the Green version…I am doing a series of these now in different sizes on curved LIGHT hooks…try some this Spring !!!
MACHINE water, at twilight…on the Madison River, MT…
UV 2 BH RENEGADE WET…
Materials for UV 2 BH RENEGADE WET…
HOOK: TMC 5262, #6 – #16
THREAD: UTC 70 denire, White – Under abdomen…Tiemco 16/0, White, rest of pattern (Remember !!! USE WHITE THREAD, SILVER TINSEL or PEARL TINSEL UNDER UV 2)
TAG: Datum Glo-Brite Floss #5, Fl. Green…coat with Aquaflex or hard As Hull
BACK HACKLE: Brown or Furnace Hackle, dull side back, Wet style
ABDOMEN: UV 2 Peacock Herl, from Eye, I use 2 strands and reinforce with Tiemco tying thread
RIB: Tiemco 16/0 Thread, White
FRONT HACKLE: White or Silver Badger…dull side back – Wet style
BEAD: Gold Tungsten, sized to hook
I have been using variations on the WET RENEGADE since 1975 when Georges Odier turned me on to them on the Roaring Fork River in CO. This one is from Al and Gretchen Beatty and believe me, IT IS a good one…So good, that I talked about it HERE…but let me show you a photo of what it did on the Madison River…
A Brown to a BH Wet Renegade…Madison River, above $3.00 Bridge…
I carry a whole bunch of these in different sizes (lower right hand corner)…BECAUSE they WORK…
Like right in here in the channels section of the Madison where Michael and Ally are standing…I took a series of some of the largest Browns I have ever caught…Boom, Boom, Boom right through this area in June 2004…It also slays on the Lower Owens River in size #16 – #18, in late March and early April…
FULL GINGER MINKER SH…
Materials for FULL GINGER MINKER SH….
HOOK: TMC 100 SP BL, #16 – #20
THREAD: Combo 6/0 Thread Tan/Orange – Cascade Crest – For Abdomen…Tiemco 16/0, Brown – Thorax forward
THORAX: Dubbed Mink Fur, Natural Brown
HACKLE: Starling, Bleached Ginger
BEAD: Plummeting Tungsten Bead, Brown, sized to hook
Another little soft hackle to throw at the Browns on the East Walker River (and some other locations) when the little Amber Caddis are about…
RUSTY DNA BUBBLEBACK EMERGER- Trina/Variant…
Materials for RUSTY DNA BUBBLEBACK EMERGER…
HOOK: TMC 100SP BL, #14 – #20
THREAD: Ultra 70 Denier, Brown or Tiemco 16/0, Brown dependent on hook size
TAIL: Coq De Leon, Dark Speckled
ABDOMEN: Rusty Brown Goose Biot, Fringed or plain – YOUR call
RIB: UTC Copper Wire, Sm or X-sm, dependent on hook size
WING CASE: DNA Holo Chromosome Flash – tied with a prominent hump
THORAX: Ice Dub, UV Brown
LEGS: Natural Partridge, Brown, V-Notched
BEAD: Copper Tungsten, sized to hook
This is a pattern designed by Adaam Trina who started Montana Fly Co. It has been around for a number of years. I first used it on the Madison River in 2004. HERE are a number of variants on Steve Schalla’s site. Note that all are tied on curved, scud type hooks…this one isn’t… 
GLINT NYMPH – Mercer/Variant (Olive)…
Materials for GLINT NYMPH VARIANT…
HOOK: TMC 100SP BL, #14 – #18
THREAD: UTC Ultra, oOlive, 70 Denier – Under abdomen, Tiemco 16/0, Black – Thorax forward
TAILS: 3 Ringneck Pheasant tail fibers, natural
RIB: UTC Ultra Wire, metallic Olive, BR or SM, dependent on hook size
FLASHBACK: Spirit River Holo Mylar Motion, Black 1/32″ or 1/64″, dependent on hook size
ABDOMEN: Olive thread covered with wraps of DNA Holo Fusion, 3-5 Large. Strands and 3-6 Small Strands
WING CASE: 1/8″ Black, Scud Back
THORAX: UV 2 Caddis Nymph, Olive
LEGS: Natural Partridge, V-Notched
BEAD: Black Tungsten, sized to hook
A Mike Mercer pattern, new from Umpqua, that I have taken liberty with. Notice the color variations the pattern is listed in…then notice the above color variations of DNA HOLO FUSION…I REALLY like this synthetic material for all its’ possibilities… 
Something for the “fifty mile riffle”…
HOT TUNG SQUIRREL, Olive – Bethke/Variant…
Materials for HOT TUNG SQUIRREL VARIANT…
HOOK: Daiichi 1120, #12 – #18
THREAD: UTC Ultra 70 denier, Black for #12 – #14 – Tiemco 16/0, Black, #16 – #18
SHUCK/TAIL: DNA Holo Chromosome Flash – Pearl – Mixture of large and small fiber strands, sized to hook
RIB: UTC Ultra Wire, Hot Orange, BR – SM. sized to hook
ABDOMEN: Squirrel Blend, dark Olive, brushed back with a velcro strip or bore brush after being ribbed
THORAX REAR: Micro Polar Chenille, Black
THORAX FRONT: Ice Dub UV Hot Orange
BEAD: Plummeting Tungsten Bead, Metallic Green, sized to hook
An Olive/Orange variation of John Bethke’s “Pink Squirrel” using some different materials in it’s construction…the original is a good’un…
SILVERBAK TUNG RED – Version # 1.
SILVERBAK RED TUNG – Version #2.
HOOK: Daiichi 1560, #14 – #18
THREAD: Tiemco 16/0 Black (for #18) – Ultra 70 Denier, Black (for #14 – #16)
TAIL: Coq De Leon Light, Speckled
ABDOMEN: Red Pheasant Tail Fibers
RIB: Ultra Wire, Black – X-sm or SM
WING CASE: Version #1. – Silver Holographic Tinsel, Med or SM…Version #2. – Silver Fire Fly 1-2 strands – * coat with UV Knotsense, Clear-Goo or 5 Min. Epoxy
LEGS: Midge Flash, 3 strands each side
THORAX: Strung Peacock Herl, dyed red
BEAD: Plummeting Tungsten Bead, sized to hook
Real Flashy and toned down version of a Red attractor that these guys might just like…
A Rainbow to Michael’s hand on the Madison River…
Materials for SILVERBAK RED TUNG…
BLUE DIAMOND SH –
Materials for the BLUE DIAMOND SH…
HOOK: TMC 5262, #14 – #18
THREAD: Tiemco 16/0 Black
TAIL: Coq De Leon fibers, Medium speckled
ABDOMEN: UTC Thread, Dark Gray
RIB: UTC Wire, Gray, SM
THORAX: Arizona Diamond hair, #.11, Silver/Blue
GLASS BEAD: In front of thorax, Killer Caddis Diamond Bed, sized to hook
HACKLE: Speckled Hen Saddle, Black #.33 – Nature’s Spirit
BEAD: Tungsten Plummeting Bead, Blue, sized to hook
Just another soft hackle, in neutrals and blue – ’cause Michael likes ‘em and they catch fish…
CASPER CADDIS LARVA –
HOOK: Daiichi 1120 or TMC 2457 – #16 -#20
THREAD: Underabdomen – Tiemco 16/0, White…Thorax forward – Tiemco 16/0, Black
ABDOMEN: AZ Diamond hair, #1., Pearl Green
RIB: Copper Ultra Wire, x-sm
THORAX: Peacock Ice Dub
BEAD: Black Tungsten , sized to hook
Materials for the CASPER CADDIS LARVA…
CASPER CADDIS water.. before the leaves burst out…
GR GUIDE DIP – Matthews/Variant…
Where this GUIDE DIP originated…
MATERIALS for The GR GUIDE DIP…
HOOK: TMC 100SP BL, #14 – #18
THREAD: Tiemco 16/0. Black – for Under abdomen and head
ABDOMEN: Glimmer Thread, Olive – Cascade Crest
RIB: UTC Ultra Wire, Red, x-sm
WING: Sparkle Emerger Yarn, Clear/White
I tie a lot of variations on this pattern, the original came out of Craig Matthew’s Blue Ribbon Flies…some other ones I use with further information, may be found HERE and HERE…these have taken many good Trout for us…
Like this Brown on The East Walker River…
PECCARY #47 HS…
MATERIALS for The PECCARY #47 HS…
HOOK: TMC 2499 SP BL, #14 – #18
THREAD: 3 of ‘em…Danville #47, 6/0, Tobacco Brown – Tiemco 16/0, Brown, Datum Glo-Brite Floss, #5, Hot Orange
TAIL: Two Peccary fibers
RIB: UTC Amber Wire, SM
ABDOMEN: Danville, #47, 6/0, Tobacco Brown – to thorax
THORAX: 70% Squirrel Blend, Rust – Spirit River/ 30% SLF Spikey Squirrel Dubbing, Brown/Olive – Wapsi
WINGLETS: Grizzly Krystal Flash, Copper/Blue
BEAD: Copper Tungsten, sized to hook
HOT SPOT: Datum Glo-Brite, #5, Hot Orange
This is a pattern I will use on the East Walker River as a lead fly with a Midge larva or pupa off the bend when working swift water…just never know what will jump on it… 
NEXT: More thoughts on some CADDIS for Spring 2013…
PT/TB 
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PLANETTROUT: Fly Fishing, Fly Tying and LIFE
